Find Your Project's Business Case And Compelling Story

Does your most important project include a financial business case AND a compelling story?

I've noticed that project leaders tend to forget one or the other. You need both. Why? Because half of the world is laser-sharp focused on the financials while the other half cares about the financials but needs a compelling story.

A compelling story is the cool reason why you are doing a project. It's the people side. It's the part that when the project is finished makes you and your constituents feel warm and fuzzy.

Maybe you're not a warm-and-fuzzy kind of person. I'm not. But, I've learned that the chances of sustaining support and achieving the project goals improves dramatically when the project includes both a business case and a compelling story.

The business case shows the financial impact of your project on the organization. It shows how will your project improve your results in any of these areas:

Revenue
Expenses
Customer Happiness
Team Member Happiness
Compliance
Social Responsibility

The business case is there - as the project leader you must articulate it. As long as your project is supporting and improving one of those six big financial impact areas you should have all the support that you need. The minute it doesn't, though the support can drain away.

The compelling story creates the excitement, the verve, the coolness that you need to get past the finish line. Oh yes, and it makes you a hero. Wouldn't that be nice?

Every project requiring cooperation needs a business case and a compelling, emotional story.

What's your story?

-- Doug Smith

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